Take a moment to enjoy the deep blue bugle flowers that have appeared in the wildflower area near the side gate of the churchyard. It is a native wildflower of dappled shade in woodland clearances, hedgerows or damp grass meadows, though better known from the many popular garden cultivars.
Also known as Creeping Weed it spreads from runners forming mats of pretty low ground cover. The common name Bugle has nothing to do with the musical instrument but where it comes from is unclear.
Medieval herbalists held this plant in high regard. In his 'Complete Herbal' of 1653, Nicholas Culpeper wrote of Ajuga reptans: 'if the virtues of it make you fall in love with it (as they will if you be wise) keep a syrup of it to take inwardly, and an ointment and plaster of it to use outwardly, always by you'. He recommends making it into a drink for internal use and an ointment for wounds and bruises, stating ‘it is so efficacious for all sorts of hurts in the body that none should be without it’. This “Carpenter’s Herb” (another common name), was presumably well known to clumsy carpenters!
Like other members of the mint family, the plant is edible, though not much regarded, and with the caveat of do your own research. Best to leave it as an important Spring nectar source for our butterflies, bees and moths